MEASURING YOUR PROFESSIONALISM QUOTIENT

Based on what professionalism as a characteristic is perceived to be, you might consider your own level of professionalism. Figure 1.1 provides you with a brief test to get you started thinking about your own level of professionalism as it relates to your ethical standards.

Measuring your PQ* (*Professionalism Quotient)

Do you always treat people you work with (including bosses, clients , people you manage) with the respect you expect to be afforded?
1. always
2. usually
3. rarely
4. never
Are you courteous in your communication (even on the phone and in e-mail) with others?
1. always
2. usually
3. rarely
4. never
Do you do every assigned task to the best of your ability?
1. always
2. usually
3. rarely
4. never, if I can get away with it
Do you do what you know to be right from a moral perspective?
1. always try
2. only when I think someone might be looking
3. I do what is right for me
4. I couldn't care less about doing the right thing
Do you keep up to date on what's going on in the field of public relations?
1. Yes, I'm dedicated to continuing education both formally & informally
2. I try to. I read the trade literature
3. I read stuff when I get a chance
4. Why should I? I know enough

Here's how to score yourself: Give yourself five points for every a, three for a b, one for a c and no points for a d.

25 points: You truly demonstrate professionalism. You would be a good role model for neophyte public relations practitioners . Most employers would be proud to have you on their staff.

21-24 points: You are not quite there. You probably consider yourself to be a professional, but you don't quite have what it takes to demonstrate what others would describe unconditionally as professionalism. Sometimes just being aware of your shortcomings can move you toward fixing them.

18-20 points: You need some professionalism intervention. It's time to re-examine your personal ethics and your work ethic , but there is probably hope.

Under 18 points: Are you aware that you might be contributing to public relations' less-than -spotless reputation?

Figure 1.1: Measuring your PQ

Obviously, this test is just for fun, but professionalism in public relations is a serious matter. Perhaps if we had a collection of people who clearly demonstrated professionalism, we wouldn't need to worry any longer about whether or not public relations is a profession. Professionalism is key to personal ethics.

Before we move on to a discussion of that sticky issue of ˜the truth, perhaps you were wondering how we defined integrity in that first-year public relations class that I took you into at the beginning of this chapter. We determined it to be doing the right thing even when no one's looking. What's the right thing? That is what we are about to discover together.